The poor man and his dusty cloth...

It's stated in the hadith that most of the torture of the grave is a result of not cleaning oneself after Urinating. In what is narrated from al-Haakim it's stated that Allah's Messenger Sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam said:

استنزهوا من البول فإن عامة عذاب القبر منه
Cleans yourself after urinating for most of the torture of the grave is from it (i.e as a result of contaminating of self with urine).
This shows the importance of learning religion because with the knowledge you learn the importance of making istinjaa'. and how to perform istinaja' properly.

How many times have I seen brothers well dressed, looking clean, and smelling fresh but when you ask them to join you in salah they excuse themselves by saying they have najas on their pants. May Allah guide us. Indeed, the lack of knowledge and love of Dunya blinds the person from the path of Jannah.
This reminds me of the story of the poor man whom once a man said to him: "Your cloth is dirty"
the Poor man replied: "but its taahir (pure, clean from najas)
The man said: "it's full of wholes"
the poor man replied: "but it covers my ^awrah (part of the body that must be covered when you pray)
The man said: it's ugly
The Poor man said: But it's from Halaal (he got it from a lawful means)

Subhanallah, he's poor, his clothes are full of wholes and probably has patches, it's dusty, and not attractive, but his biggest concern is the fact he got it from Halal, it covers his ^awrah (unlawful nakedness) and it's pure so he can pray with it. While other people have many garments, and expensive shoes but can't keep their pants clean from najas.

Life is short, and all of us, regardless, if we are rich or poor will end up in the grave. And, in the grave its not how good you look, what brand or style you wear, or how many people admire you that will save, rather it's your good deeds that is done in sincerity that will benefit you.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : " يَتْبَعُ الْمَيِّتُ إِلَى قَبْرِهِ ثَلاثَةٌ : أَهْلُهُ ، وَمَالُهُ ، وَعَمَلُهُ ، فَيَرْجِعُ اثْنَانِ ، وَيَبْقَى وَاحِدٌ ، يَرْجِعُ أَهْلُهُ ، وَمَالُهُ ، وَيَبْقَى عَمَلُهُ ".

The messenger of Allah sallallahu ^alayhi wa salam said "Three things follow a dead person to his grave: his family, his wealth (money), and his deeds. Two will return and one will remain. His family and wealth will return and his deed will remain." narrated by At-Tarmidhy and similar narration in Bukhari.

Typically when a person dies his relatives go to bury him and then leave and return to their normal lives. They may cry for him but eventually will forget him. His savings and belongings will be inherited by others, and his wife may marry someone else and vise versa. Ultimately what remains are his deeds. If he (or she) was a God-fearing Muslim his grave will be a place of comfort beyond any worldly comfort, otherwise, he might face severe consequences, unless he's among the Muslim sinners Allah willed to forgive.

So repent before you die, and never give up working on yourself and fixing yourself. Even if you fall over and over again fight against your sinful self, repent and come back and don't let the devil fool you to continue sinning. Surround yourself with good Muslims, seek knowledge and do your best to apply what you learn and remember Allah is very merciful.
The greater the challenges you face the greater your reward will be if you are patient and sincere. And, don't be like those who constantly blame society, and complain about the world while not working on themselves. The hearts of others are not under your control but you can do yourself a favor and be a good Muslim. On the day of judgment, you will not be punished for the sins others have committed, but you will be asked about deeds.

Allah the Exalted said:
فَإِن أَعرَضوا فَما أَرسَلنٰكَ عَلَيهِم حَفيظًا إِن عَلَيكَ إِلَّا البَلٰغُ

Which means: and if they turn away, we have not sent you as a guard over them (i.e. oh Muhammad) on you is only to deliver"
ash-Shuraa/48

And Allah knows best

Advise of Salman Al-Farisi

The advice I carried for years in my Wallet.

One of the early companions of prophet Muhammad sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam named Salman Al-Farisi said:

قال سلمان الفارسي رضي الله عنه: إنك لن تنال ما تريد إلا بترك ما تشتهي، ولن تنال ما تأمُل إلا بالصبر على ما تكره، فليكن كلامك ذِكراً، وصمتك فِكراً، ونظرك عِبَراً، فإنَّ الدنيا تتقلب، وبهجتها تتغير، فلا تغتر بها، وليكن بيتك المسجد.

"verily, you will not achieve what you want except by leaving what you desire, and you will not achieve what you wish except by being patient of that which you dislike. Let your speech be Dhikr (remembrance of Allah), you silence a reflection, and your sight (vision, seeing) a lesson (i.e. to learn from). For this world fluctuates (it's not stable), its happiness changes, so don't be fooled by it, and let the Masjid be your abode (i.e. go often to the masjid)

When I first read these words of Salman Al-Farisi in Arabic I was shaken by it and wrote it on peace of paper and carried it in my wallet for years during my college years. The more I learned about religion and the life of the very pious the more deeper meaning I learned as I looked from time to time and read the paper. The more I learned the more I realize how distant I am from the way of those who are very pious and the more respect and appreciation I gained for the Awliyaa' of Allah. And as such different people will have different levels of insights from his advice, and those who are more knowledgeable and well aware of the life of the very pious will gain a deeper understanding. And Allah knows best

Ramadan is Here

Ramadan is here! 
Ramadan is here and its time to reflect and to and plan insh'Allah what to do to be a better person. Most people tend to be busy speaking about others, blaming others, striving to find the faults of others, or trying to confirm and imitate to please others. However, the clever one is he whom fixing his defect kept him busy from looking into the defects of others. Instead of worrying for what others, have done, what they are thinking of you...how about focusing on yourself to do what is right. have your learnt what Allah made obligatory upon you?.....in Addition to the five prayers do you pray at LEAST two raka^ah of the night prayers (commonly prayed by the companions) or do you commit time to read Quran,,,,and if you don't know how to recite, well did you put time to learn....So many thinks you can do to make yourself busy in a good way, in a productive way, invest your time in what will benefit you in this world and in the next world.....Life is short and if you want to be productive invest in yourself for change. There are so many thinks you can do...so, have mercy on yourself and don't let thinking and worrying about others keep you distant from improving yourself. Ramadan is Here and its good to start planing how you want to improve,..... and remember the key to success is knowledge. And Allah knows best.

Be Steadfast

Be Steadfast

A man asked prophet Muhammad by saying:
 يا رسول الله ، قل لي في الإسلام قولاً لا أسأل عنه أحدا غيرك
which means: Oh messenger of Allah, tell me about Islam a saying that I wouldn't ask anyone other than you.
Prophet Muhammad said
 ( قل آمنت بالله ، ثم استقم )
"Say I believe in Allah and be steadfast" narrated by Al-Bukhariyy

Henceforth, one must have a firm and proper believe in Allah and His messenger and one must be steadfast in his obedience by performing the obligation and avoiding the sins.  Such person will enter paradise without punishment.

As for believing in Allah one must believe in the uniqueness of Allah praise be to Him.  One must believe that Allah doesn't resemble any of the creation in any shape or form.  Allah is independent of time and space, and He doesn't need any of the creation.  Allah is the creator and everything else is a creation.  A creation is anything that has a beginning and everything has a beginning except Allah.  Its like what Ahmad ibnu Hambal said:
"Whatever you Imagine in your mind Allah is different from it."
This is a great saying so remember it and memorize it, if you don't know.

One Must love Allah and His messengers and believe Muhammad sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam is the last of all Messengers.

Brothers and sisters, life is short and we live in a time where we are bombarded with many massages via the media that are anti Islam.  To make thinks worse we are also faced with people and organizations that do thinks in the name of Islam that are contrary to the teaching of prophet Muhammad sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam.  So be patient, and do your best to learn and implement the teaching of the prophet sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, from trustworthy teachers.

Times are tough indeed, but there are many thinks that prophet Muhammad spoke about and we are witnessing them and there are many other events that are yet to come. The key is patience, knowledge and implementation.

Finally,  prophet Muhammad said:
 من سلك طريقاً يلتمس فيه علماً سهل الله له به طريقاً إلى الجنة
Which means: "He who goes on a path seeking knowledge (i.e. of the religion) Allah will facilitate for him a path to Paradise" narrated by Muslim.  

Remember, it's very important to have a good environment that encourages you to be steadfast with the teaching of prophet Muhammad sallallahu ^alayhi wasallam.  So make sure you befriend good people whom you advise and they advise you to be a good Muslim.  Moreover, as a family also do activities and thinks that brings blessing to your home.  Such as praying Salah in congregation, and waking up for Subh husband and wife and prying the subuh prayer in congregation.  How about sitting after Maghrib and Subuh and reciting the dhikrs of morning and evening together.  If you already do this, then good for you, keep up the good deed, and slowly but surly always try to get better and better.  If you don't do this how about your start doing some of that and make it a habit and you will gain great benefits in this world and the hereafter. Very often starting a new habit is challenging, but with patience and continuous effort it gets easier.  Leaving a bad habit or an act of sinning and starting a good deed may feel bitter at first, but its that bitterness that will yield the sweetness that you desire, but you got to challenge yourself to be better.
May Allah make it easy upon us, and may Allah grant us happiness in this world and the hereafter.  Ramadan Kareem

And Allah knows best.

your worst enemy is yourself

Advise of Shaykh Abdullah al Harari:

Shaykh Abdullah said advising a group of students
"Your worst enemy is yourself" and this saying of the shaykh is indeed stated in a Hadith of prophet Muhammad sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam " أَعْدَى عَدُوَّكَ نَفْسُكَ الَّتِي بَيْنَ جَنْبَيْكَ "
Which literally means: Your worst enemy is yourself that's between your sides."

Many people have the habit of blaming others for their shortcoming, mistakes, and failure. Hence, learn to take responsibility for your mistakes and stop blaming others for your problems. Learn to be focused and have consistency and this will benefit your greatly religiously and worldly if you pay close attention to these words.

As for religion, religion is easy if you learn it properly. What is challenging is changing your bad habits that you have developed and practiced for years. Recognition of your mistakes and admitting your wrong doing is the first step. Learn to do what is beneficial and don't just fallow your desires. People often are inclined toward laziness and people who accomplish great achievements are focused and put a great deal of effort weather religiously or even those who accomplish thinks worldly.

Don't let your mind play games with you preventing your from reaching your goals. Its like what Ahmad al-Rifaa^iy may Allah be pleased with him said:
تلعب الآمال بالعقول , تلعب بالهمم كل يطير بجناح همته إلي أمله ومقصد قلبه فإذا بلغ غاية همته وقف فلم يجاوزها قال تعالي : (كُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ عَلَى شَاكِلَتِهِ) ( الإسراء 84 ) أي علي نيته وهمته

Which Means:
"Hopes plays with the mind, plays with one's ambition, everyone flies with the wings of his ambition to his heart's hope and aim. And once he reaches his ultimate ambition he stops and wouldn't cross it. Allah the exalted said (كُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ عَلَى شَاكِلَتِهِ)
Which means: {Everyone does according to his Shakilatihi} that is according to his intention and ambition....."(the rest continuation of his advice is deep and beyond my translation)

Finally I would like to remind you of the prophet's saying: من حسن إسلام المرء تركه ما لا يعنيه
Which means part of one being a good Muslim is for him to leave out that which doesn't concern him" And Allah knows best

Masjids